Disney's FASTPASS

The Original FASTPASS System no longer exists.

UPDATE JANUARY 2014:Walt Disney World is continuing to implement the MyMagic+ program, with important changes coming soon.

First, Key to the World cards will no longer be automatically issued. During the testing phase of the MagicBand wristbands, Disney resorts still gave guests the usual key cards as a backup for the MagicBand and to use with original, paper-based FASTPASS machines. Sometime in the next two weeks, however, Disney resort guests are scheduled to start receiving ONLY MagicBands.

Key to the World cards have already been eliminated at Disney's Old Key West Resort, Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, Disney's Beach Club Villas and Disney's Wilderness Lodge, with other Disney Vacation Club resorts soon to follow. Currently, resort guests can still request request a Key to the World card rather than a MagicBand.

Additionally, as of January 14, Disney is scheduled to discontinue use of the paper-based FASTPASS machines in the Magic Kingdom. All park guests -- including those staying at Disney resorts, passholders AND day guests using Magic Your Way passes -- will now be on the FASTPASS+ system. This was already done in mid-December at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Disney resort guests, including Disney Vacation Club members, can use the My Disney Experience website and mobile app to customize their MagicBands prior to arrival and schedule FASTPASS+ ride times. Offsite guests cannot currently use the MDE site or app, nor can they schedule ride times in advance. These day guests must use the in-park FASTPASS+ kiosks to plan ride times upon arrival.

There has been no official announcement on when paper-based FASTPASS will be discontinued at Epcot or Disney's Hollywood Studios.

If you use any of the new technologies
Disney has introduced (MyMagic+, FASTPASS+, MagicBands)
please take a minute to share your thoughts in our Rate
and Review section.

What
is FASTPASS?

FASTPASS is Disney's innovative
system to help reduce long waits at the
most popular attractions. It was introduced in 1999
and has been very successful. It is essentially a timed
ticket that allows you to spend your time elsewhere
instead of waiting in line. You return to the attraction
or show at the times stated on your FASTPASS to bypass
the standby line. FASTPASS is also occasionally used
during special events, such as obtaining autographs
during Star Wars Weekends.

Can Anyone Take Advantage
of FASTPASS?

Absolutely! Any park guest can
use FASTPASS. You do NOT have to have any special tickets or be staying
at a Disney resort hotel. FASTPASS is available to EVERYONE without an additional fee.

How Much Does FASTPASS Cost?

FASTPASS is included in your
admission to the park. There is NO extra charge to use the system.

How
Does it Work?

FASTPASS is essentially a "virtual"
queuing system - guests who obtain a FASTPASS
are entered into a virtual queue in the computer which
saves their space in line and then (based upon how
many guests are in front of them in the virtual queue)
calculates the time it would take to come to the front
of the line -- this becomes their return time.

When you approach a FASTPASS
attraction you will see two clocks. The first
one will tell you how long the STAND BY ENTRANCE wait
time is, if you got in line right at that moment. The
other clock, FASTPASS DISTRIBUTION, tells you what
time you will need to return if you get a FASTPASS
ticket at that time.

Go to the FASTPASS ticket machine
and insert your admission ticket. EACH
PERSON (over age 3) NEEDS A FASTPASS TICKET! Out
comes your FASTPASS indicating what time frame you
may return to the attraction. You are given a time
frame, or "window,"
and may return during that period. Note
that for some attractions, like the Little Mermaid
Show (Disney's Hollywood Studios), there is only a
10-15 minute window.

Once your FASTPASS time has
arrived, return to the attraction and get
in the line for FASTPASS holders (FASTPASS RETURN)!
MAKE SURE to arrive within your FASTPASS window!!! Be sure to have your ticket out and ready to show
the Cast Member. Further along in the waiting area,
a Cast Member will actually collect your FASTPASS
ticket.

Even if you only want to see
the preshow and have no intentions of getting on the ride/attraction
-- if you want to go with your party through the FASTPASS line you
WILL need a FASTPASS!

If you are doing the Child Swap -- Both you and your child NEED a FASTPASS
ticket! EXCEPTION:
If your child is under 3 and was admitted
to the park for free, you do not need a FASTPASS ticket
for them.

What about
Peak Attendance times? Are the waits longer? Does FASTPASS still work?

If the FASTPASS system works
the way it should, wait times to board attractions after returning with
FASTPASS should usually be under 5 minutes, but not exceed 10 minutes
(unless there was a recent attraction downtime or other unusual situation).

The FASTPASS
wait time should not be any longer during peak periods, because the
computerized system automatically spreads the FASTPASS guests evenly
throughout the day regardless of attendance level. The only thing different
during peak periods is that since FASTPASS demand is higher the return
time (assigned time to come back) will be longer.

Therefore, during peak periods
when there are more guests in the virtual
queue the return time gets extended further out into
the day. For most attractions the return time is usually
between 40 and 90 minutes and rarely extends beyond
two hours.

Are there cast members at
the FASTPASS machines to handle questions, problems, etc.?

Yes, Cast Members are usually
located near the FASTPASS machines to assist you with questions or problems.

Can one member of a family
get FASTPASSes by carrying everyone's admission
tickets for the whole family and running them through
the machine or does everyone have to go through the
line w/their admissions tickets in order to get their
FASTPASS ?

Everyone
does not have to go to the FASTPASS machine.
However, before you separate from your family/party,
be sure to get each person's admission ticket (or
resort ID which sometimes includes Park Admission).
You can only get ONE FASTPASS per card and EACH person
needs one.

NOTE: The process for obtaining FASTPASS during
special events, such as Star Wars Weekends, may vary.

My child is 2 years old
and won't require an admission ticket. Does
she still need a FASTPASS ticket?

No, children who do not require
admission media would just enter with the accompanying adult at
the appropriate time. There should also always be an attendant nearby
the FASTPASS machines if there is any question.

What happens if the ride breaks
down or goes off-line?

If this happens, the system
should stop issuing tickets. You will have the opportunity to use the
FASTPASS you acquired anytime during the rest of that day, once the
attraction is operating normally again.

Can I request a specific time
to return?

No, you can not request a specific
return time. The times are all computerized and you will only be allowed
to enter the FASTPASS line during the time stated on your FASTPASS
ticket.

If the FASTPASS says 1:00
- 2:00 can it be used after 2:00 or does it expire?

The FASTPASS expires, unless the attraction has
gone down for an extended period of time. Cast Members
will allow you to use "expired" FASTPASSes
up to about 15 minutes after the stated time. (NOTE:
This change is effective March 2012 -- previously,
expired FASTPASSes were honored any time after the
window "close"
date on the day of issue.)

If the FASTPASS says 1:00
- 2:00 can I get a second FASTPASS at 1:01?

Yes. You
can get another FASTPASS as soon your "window
for entering the FASTPASS line" begins. You can
get a new FASTPASS up to two hours from the time you
actually got your FastPass (it will never be longer
than two hours, but can be shorter if it has been
programmed into the FP computers to be shorter than
2 hours.) In all
cases the time you can get another FASTPASS
is always printed on all FastPasses (if you received
an Overridden FastPass because there was a problem
with your admission ticket, it will not show a time).

Can I
have multiple FASTPASS tickets at one time?

In certain
cases, as explained above.

Let's
say I have a FASTPASS for the Safaris at 10 a.m. I ride at 10 a.m., exit
at 10:30 and then walk over to Kali River Rapids before 11 a.m. Can I
get a new FASTPASS for Kali River Rapids?

Yes, the
machine will issue you a new pass.

If
I have a FASTPASS for Space Mountain for 1:00 to 2:00, can I ride Space
Mountain as many times as I want using FASTPASS in between those hours?

No, you can only ride it once per FASTPASS. A Cast Member will
take your FastPass ticket once you are in the queue for the attraction.

Are there
FASTPASS machines at other locations in the parks?

The FASTPASS
machines for each attraction are only located at that attraction.

What
attractions are FASTPASS Attractions? (current
as of August 2012, but subject to change)

*FastPass was planned for this attraction,
and that queue would allow guests with the reserved
times to bypass the family room of Maurice's cottage,
going straight into the workshop area. However, FastPass
distribution has not yet started, except during testing
of the new FastPass+, which is a system that
allows for pre-booking of FastPasses.

VERY Important Note: FASTPASSes for Toy Story
Mania (Studios), Expedition Everest (Animal Kingdom)
and Soarin' and Test Track (Epcot) are so popular,
they are often gone by mid-afternoon! It is not unusual
to arrive at the attraction at 10 am to find the FASTPASS time
for your return is mid to late afternoon. Expedition
Everest and Test Track offer a Single Rider Line --
consider using it! Ask the Cast Members you
see on the outside part of the queue. A single rider
line means your party will be separated, but you
will bypass the inside queue and waiting time. You
will be loaded in vehicles as single spaces become
available. You still see the preshow.

How
will I know for sure what attractions are FASTPASS attractions?

The Park
Guide Maps will indicate which attractions are FASTPASS attractions.
You can also ask any Cast Member or inquire at Lobby Concierge in your
Disney resort hotel.

Do I have
to wait at all if I have a FASTPASS?

Yes,
FASTPASS ticket holders may have to wait in line for the attraction.
The key is, you won't have to wait AS LONG as if you stood in the
regular line. (See explanation above regarding Peak Attendance times.)

Are FASTPASS
Tickets issued during the entire time the park is open?

No, FASTPASS
tickets are not issued all day long. Often the FASTPASS ticket machines
may be shut down a couple hours before closing time. During off-peak
times, FASTPASS will often be shut down when the standby wait time is
under 30 minutes. Also when all available return times have been issued,
FASTPASS is closed for the rest of the day. At some popular attractions,
this can happen as early as 1 p.m. Keep in mind that technical
problems can close the FASTPASS system just as they do the attractions
themselves.

What
happens if I get a FASTPASS and the time stated is not good, like at
the same time as a priority seating for a meal? Can I cancel it so that
it won't ruin my ability to get another FASTPASS at another attraction?

No, you
can't turn it in, so to speak. You will be able to find out what times
are being given out when you approach the FASTPASS Machines. They are
indicated on the signs above the machines. If you can't tell, be sure
and ask a Cast Member prior to getting your ticket. When
in doubt, ask the FASTPASS Cast Member.

I will
be using an old Admission Ticket, the kind that is manually date stamped
without a magnetic strip. How do I get a FASTPASS ticket?

Show your
admissions ticket to the Cast Member at the FASTPASS machines and they
will print out a FASTPASS ticket for you.

I'm a Cast Member, how do I get a FASTPASS
since my admission ticket is my identification card?
Also, how will my spouse using a Complimentary Pass
be issued a FASTPASS?

Cast Member IDs should run through the machines
as normal, as long as the Cast Member scanned their
ID through the machine at entry. All Cast IDs now operate
like Annual Passes, in that the Cast Member will need
to put their finger into the biometrics reader just
like an annual Passholder.

If there is a problem, show your TDS/ABC/DL ID to
the Cast Member at the FastPass machines and they'll
give you an override FP. At Disneyland, you can use
your ID or Silver Pass right in the machines, but not
at WDW.

What have
Guests said about FASTPASS?

Fast pass
was the best thing Disney has come up with -- it was great getting a set
time for coming back-then being able to see other things waiting for that
time to come around. (Karen)

*****

Yes, the
FastPass at Disney seems to work fine on
must rides...as long as you get them before about
lunchtime. Otherwise all the time slots are already
allocated and you could find yourself having to wait
about 4 hours for your slot (Particularly on Test
Track. I got my fast pass on this ride at 10.30am
and was allocated a time to return at 9.55pm!!) I used
the fast pass system last year and found that I didn't
have to queue for anything even during the busiest
periods. This year people seem to know more about
it and so it isn't quite as good. Unbelievably though,
many people still line up for about 2 hours convinced
that you have to pay extra for the passes. (Phil Tomlinson)

*****

I have
a couple of suggestions that I want to pass along about FASTPASS.
You may want to suggest that people coming to WDW think about how
they are going to carry their park admission ticket. With the FASTPASS
system, people may need to get out their ticket several times a day
while in the park to get a FASTPASS. It was frustrating to stand behind
people in the FASTPASS machine line who could not find their park
pass! Also, people need to remember to get both their ticket and FASTPASS
back out of the machine. We saw someone leave their park admission
ticket behind! We carried a thin waterproof ID wallet in our front
pockets and it worked out great. It helped to keep our tickets dry
and easy to find. We just put the FASTPASSs and admission ticket together
in the ID wallet. It was quick to find when we needed it and the ticket
stayed dry and did not get bent.

We have
mixed feelings about the FASTPASS system. When you get to a ride that
has FASTPASS and look at the two clocks remember that the standby line
time is an ESTIMATE of how much time you will need to wait to ride.
We found that on some rides the time was way off and the line was much
shorter that the clock said. We also found that on some rides the standby
time estimate was to short because a lot of fast pass riders came in
and their line backed up. The CM let the FASTPASS riders on and left
us standing in line even longer when this happened. It was frustrating
to be in the standby line for longer than the time estimate said on
the clock and have the FASTPASS riders cut in front of you. FASTPASS
made it hard to predict how long the wait for a ride would REALLY be.

We found that FASTPASS changed the way we toured the parks. We went
to the ride in each park that we really wanted first. If the stand by
line was not very long we would get a FASTPASS first and then get in
the standby line and ride it. By the time we got through riding it would
be time for our FASTPASS. This let us ride 2 times in a row early in
the day. FASTPASS did not work as well for us as the parks got more
crowded. We would get a FASTPASS when we could for a ride, but the return
times were usually a couple hours away. We found ourselves waiting around
for a FASTPASS time to come up rather than moving to a different area
of the park or walking more to go back to a ride that we were holding
a FASTPASS for. I'm not sure if the this system is worth it. Maybe it
was better when everyone had equal rights in line? (Julie)

FASTPASS
may also be used to your advantage if you really like a particular ride
and want to ride twice in a row. Having ridden Test Track earlier in
our trip and seeing how crowded it was all day, we decided to try to
ride it twice in a row on our next visit to Epcot. We got to the park
early enough that the regular line was not very long. Seeing that, we
got our FASTPASS tickets and then got in the regular line. After a pretty
reasonable wait, considering that they were having "technical difficulties"
with the ride, we had our turn on Test Track. As soon as the ride was
over, we went to the FASTPASS return line ( our FASTPASS time window
opened while we were in the regular line ), and got right back on. -
(Willie Geoghegan)

We were
at WDW over the Easter holiday and successfully used FASTPASS in each
of the theme parks. First thing upon early entry we would go get a FASTPASS
for the ride we most wanted to go on. We would then go do other rides
and/or shows and wait for our time. Most of the lines for FASTPASS moved
quickly with the exception of Test Track which probably took over 30
minutes. Overall, the FASTPASS works very well and we would recommend
using it whenever possible. (Richard Wolff)

The FASTPASS
works great. We never had to wait in line. When we wanted to ride things
the kids could not ride we did not feel that we invested much time away
from things they could do. We just got our fast pass for the roller
coasters while one of us was with them in a show and then rode them
quickly later. A good idea is to get the fast passes as soon as you
enter the park. After 2:00 they seem to say times after 5 or even 7!
Always check the standby lines even if the wait times say 45 min. it
could be only 5. We had this happen late afternoon and evening. The
times take into account the fastpass's that have been given out. A lot
of the time people have already left the park or decided not to ride.
We were told a 90 min. wait for test track one evening and only waited
5 min. We tried to tell the cast member that they had to be wrong by
looking at the ride, but they must have strict orders not to guess and
stay with the project times on the sign. I hope this may help someone.
(Roxanne)